GLOBAL ASPECTS OF INFECTION-CONTROL .1. AN OVERVIEW OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION-CONTROL IN BRAZIL

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, with a population of 1 46 million people. The socioeconomic development and the distribution of population and health services varies widely within the country. Th ere are approximately 1.2 million hospital admissions per month, 80% o f them paid by a government healthcare program that follows the diagno sis-related groups (DRGs) model. The Ministry of Health has been tryin g to establish a nationwide nosocomial infection control program since 1983. Most Brazilian hospitals now have some kind of infection contro l activity, but only a few of them have complete programs. Infrastruct ural deficiencies, the scarcity of well-trained healthcare workers, an d the widespread occurrence of multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus an d gram-negative bacteria are some of the challenges faced by Brazilian hospitals in the control of nosocomial infection